Long-term effects of acceleration on the social-emotional adjustment of mathematically precocious youths.

The Study of Mathematically Precocious Youth (SMPY) identified over 2,000 12-14 year-olds who scored as well as a random sample of high school females on the College Board Scholastic Aptitude Test. SMPY encouraged these students to accelerate their education; over 50% did. Their social development at age 18 and at age 23 was then assessed. We investigated the effects of amount and type of educational acceleration (grade skipping and subject matter) on psychosocial indices (self-esteem, locus of control, self-acceptance/identity, and social interaction)